Trump's Racist Post Sparks Late Awakening Among Some Voters
John from New Mexico, a lifelong Republican, called into C-Span's Washington Journal earlier this month with penitence on his mind. He had voted for President Trump in all three elections but was now apologizing to the nation. The trigger was a racist post on Trump's Truth Social account, depicting Barack and Michelle Obama with ape-like features, which John described as an embarrassment to the country.
The racism was not new, but for John, the inability to look past it became a sudden revelation. He admitted being sucked into promises of job creation, only to find things worse than before. This moment of clarity, though belated, underscores a broader issue among millions of voters who have rationalized Trump's actions despite his collapsing approval ratings.
Unmistakable and Unforgivable Consequences
The consequences of Trump's second term have been both unmistakable and unforgivable. His administration has harassed and arrested journalists, while the president and his family have enriched themselves by an estimated $4 billion. Critical climate policies have been hollowed out, and immigrants are scapegoated for economic struggles.
The human toll is harder to tally but no less real. Lives were lost due to mishandling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the Covid pandemic, alongside promotion of junk science. Abuses in immigration detention facilities and global dismantling of humanitarian aid add to the damage, which remains incalculable to institutions and norms.
The Calculus of Acceptance
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro recently acknowledged Trump's flaws but argued they were not disqualifying compared to alternatives like Kamala Harris. This reflects a calculus where harm is accepted as a tolerable cost, requiring accountability beyond the initial vote. Yet, elected officials often agonize over how to discuss Trump's voters without offending them, risking politeness that curdles into absolution.
Apology and regret in American politics have become substitutes for accountability, emerging only after harm is undeniable. Federal apologies for historical atrocities, such as slavery or Native American abuses, acknowledge harm but often lack meaningful repair. Similarly, demands for Trump to apologize for his racist post are hollow without true accountability.
A Generational Exhaustion
Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, called Trump's post the most racist thing from the White House, yet this statement highlights efforts to strip racism of meaning. The exhaustion from such moments is generational, as the nation remains trapped in a moral loop of harm, denial, and belated remorse without repair.
Expressing regret should start a reckoning, but too often it feels like an ending. Americans must confront the acceptance of harm as a tolerable cost, repeated through policy and silence. If regret does not compel responsibility, it becomes mere moral convenience, leaving power and consequence unchanged. Voters who are truly sorry must do more than just apologize.
